2019 Bible reading program: Learning What the New Testament Teaches

Hebrews 3,  August 27, Tuesday

In this chapter, Paul continues to elevate Jesus, this time above Moses.

In v. 1-6, Paul draws a conclusion. In light of chapters 2 and 3, he says ‘look at Jesus’ and provides him two designated names—the apostle and high priest of Christianity, our confession. An apostle is one sent by God to proclaim an inspired message, like Moses. A high priest offers worship on behalf of the people as Aaron did. (This topic will be fully developed in later chapters.)

Paul immediately begins to compare Jesus to Moses as the apostle of God. But Moses was faithful only as a servant. Jesus was the Son of God and is worthy of more glory. Note that the church is the house of God in which Jesus works.

In v. 7-11, Paul quotes Ps. 95:7-11 to stress his point that we should listen to Jesus and not rebel as Israel had done in the wilderness (see Numbers 14:1-10; When the spies returned, Israel did not believe that God could help them take the promised land and keep their children from dying in the wilderness. For that unbelief, God sentenced them to 40 years wandering in the wilderness until all the adults, except the faithful spies, Joshua and Caleb, would die. Those children, who they thought would die, were the ones who would receive the blessings of the land of Canaan.)

In v. 12-19, Paul makes the point that Christians should not develop a similar hard heart and fall away. He adds that the Israelites could not enter the rest of the promised land because of their unbelief. (In the next chapter the rest is paralleled to the saved state of faithful Christians who will enter heaven for an eternal rest.)

Message of the chapter: Jesus is superior to Moses like a Son is superior to a servant. Warning is given to be faithful and not unbelieving like Israel in the Old Testament.

Application Today we must maintain faith in God and Jesus to receive an eternal rest in heaven

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